Ruthless Pursuit
With every ounce of strength she had, Lily struggled against his hold. The moment her hands were free, she lashed out, pounding her fists against his chest in blind desperation. Her voice shook with fury.
"You bastard! Let me go! I'll make you pay for this! You—ah—!"
A sharp, piercing cry tore from her throat.
Agonizing pain ripped through her body, spreading like wildfire.
For a moment, time itself seemed to stop.
Lily's breath hitched as she stared at the man before her, horror dawning in her wide, tear-filled eyes.
He had taken her.
"You were actually untouched?" Ethan's voice carried a note of surprise. He couldn't ignore the undeniable proof. His dark eyes flickered with something unreadable. He hadn't expected this—but the sensation… wasn't bad.
His large hand cupped her dazed, tear-streaked face as he continued, completely unbothered by her anguish.
"I'll make you pay for this. I'll make you pay. I'll make you pay…" The words tumbled from Lily's lips in a weak, broken chant. She had stopped struggling, her body limp like a discarded rag doll, her mind clinging to a single thought.
Her dignity—untouched for twenty-two years—was gone. Completely gone.
She wouldn't let him get away with it.
She would make sure he faced consequences for what he had done.
Make him pay?
"Go ahead. I even have evidence for you." Ethan withdrew from her without the slightest hesitation. As if indulging a fragile plaything, he casually ran his fingers through her long, dark hair before turning away. His voice was cold and detached as he commanded, "Bring it here."
The moment he released her, Lily's legs nearly gave out. She slumped against the chain-link fence, using it as her only support to keep standing.
She couldn't collapse. She would not collapse.
She refused to show weakness in front of this man.
She needed to save her strength—to hold him accountable. She couldn't fall now.
"I have it," a soft voice chimed in.
Natalie Walker hurried over, handing Ethan a phone. His black suit jacket, draped loosely over her delicate frame, covered her bare shoulders.
When her gaze landed on Lily, jealousy, and resentment flared in her eyes.
She had spent so much effort trying to get close to Ethan, scheming for the perfect opportunity to offer herself to him. She had been moments away from asking him to secure her a role in his next film. But now? Everything had been ruined—by this plain, unimpressive woman.
Natalie shot Lily a venomous glare before quickly softening her expression as she turned to Ethan. Her voice dripped with honeyed sweetness.
"Mr. Blackwood, I recorded everything."
Lily remained unresponsive until Ethan held the phone out to her.
Her breath caught.
Her eyes widened in horror as the screen came into focus.
The video showed a man, his back turned to the camera, his face intentionally hidden. But the girl—the girl with her legs exposed, pressed against the chain-link fence, powerless to escape—
That girl was unmistakably her.
He had taken advantage of her… and had Natalie record it?!